Wotcher Harry?
That's right. I'm even stealing greetings from other books now. Please don't sue. My most prized possession is an Adventure Time Happy Meal toy, so…
Let's not talk about the fact I haven't updated in a millennium and counting, and we can all share my Adventure Time toy, kay? … No? But it's Finn…
Enjoy~
The Midnight Snack
The rocks in the gravel path dug into the sole of my feet, making me instantly regret not putting on shoes. But being already halfway to the boys' dorm, my stubborn side refused to turn back. If I remember correctly, and this is a big if coming from me, there is a snack machine on the outer back wall of the boy's dorm. I say this is a big if because I had already gone to the back of the girls' dorm, thinking I had seen it there. After only seeing an A/C unit, a trash can, and a currently unhelpful back door, I almost gave up on the ghost snack machine if not for my arguing stomach.
This leads me to my current predicament: attempting to locate the least painful patches of rocks to subjugate my unnaturally tender feet to. As I take a moment to gauge the amount of hurt I have left to go, my mental theatre, as I like to call it, gives me an image of some poor soul waking up in the middle of the night, missing family that is probably hours away. Then, on a whim, they get out of bed, crossing their lonely room to a single window. Opening the blinds, they throw open their window, and with tears of homesickness streaming down their cheeks, dripping onto the cold, white windowsill, they turn their face heavenward. There, they see millions of stars glimmering in the sky, making their problems seem so insignificant in comparison. With a watery smile, they look down to the Earth now, feeling better than they have in a long while. More confident and sure of themselves, and wanting to see what else God's great creation has to offer.
And that's when they see a wet-haired, pajama-wearing, shoeless girl, leaping sporadically through the gravel paths of the courtyard.
Yep.
I am such an inspiration.
As the curtains of my mind theatre close, I almost literally collapse into fits of giggles, but after catching the sharp point of the rocks in the street lamp light, I manage to keep myself upright. Before making another painful leap of faith, I subconsciously check the windows of the boys and girls form. Upon seeing no horribly disappointed faces, I continue on.
Finally reaching the cement curb that surrounds the perimeter of the boy's dorm, I immediately fall ungracefully to my butt, bringing one abused foot onto my lap, assessing the damage. After deeming the probability of having to amputate being less than fifty percent, I stand up with a wince. I then began to hobble around to the back of the building, using the side walls as support. Knowing my run of luck today, there probably will not be any kind of food-giving device around the corner, and I will have to take the Trail of Tears back with nothing gained.
I groaned out loud at the thought; I would rather just sleep on the curb instead, pillow or no pillow.
But I guess good things still happen to good people because as I almost tripped around that fateful corner, there it was: a blue vending machine boasting its probably stale food proudly. I walked up to it in awe, like I was in a trance. Once I was bathed in its beautifully harsh electric light, however, I snapped out of it. Going into survival mode, I quickly ransacked my wallet, grabbing every single dollar bill, and as my stomach urged, even the loose change. Guiding the first dollar into the slot with surprisingly steady fingers, I watched with rapt attention as the small screen lit up with my credit amount.
I just barely kept myself from squealing in happiness, but I might still have, I don't really know. I scanned the food inside like a man in the desert would eye an oasis. Not able to make a decision, I pushed random buttons, and was rewarded with the soft thud of a generic brand popcorn bag falling into the bottom tray. I snatched it out, ripped it open, and stuffed half of the popcorn into my mouth before a coherent thought was ever made. Still chewing on popcorn, I managed to insert more money and press more random buttons. Pretty soon, I had replaced all of the singles and change in my wallet with a hefty pile of junk food.
It was a good trade.
Too hungry, and not too eager to repeat the pain of the trip here, I plopped onto my butt on one side of the vending machine. Leaning against the wall, I felt a stupid grin slip onto my face as I contemplated where to strike first. Not really remembering ever making a decision, I was almost done with a chocolate bar when I smelled it.
Smoke.
I had a moment of panic before I realized it wasn't fire smoke, but cigarette smoke. After sniffing a few more times to make sure, I noted that it was faint. Deducing the smell to be un-threatening, I relaxed my tensed shoulders, going back to my midnight feast.
Only a bite later, I heard the sound of a metal door opening and closing with a bang that made me jump. I stopped mid chew, listening as footsteps sounded on the other side of the vending machine. A faint rustling led to the clicking of a lighter. Then the smell of fresh cigarette smoke wafted over to me. Wanting to know about the unexpected company, but not wanting to make myself known to the random guy, I peeked through the crack in between the vending machine and the wall. Past all of the electrical cords, I could make out an un-laced, booted foot propped against the wall.
I rolled my eyes at this. Of course. Your typical school bad boy. I guess every school has to have one, even-I covered my mouth to hold back a snort- an art school. My mind theatre then decided to interrupt, giving me many mental images as to what such a guy could look like. Only a few heartbeats later, my eyes were watering with the strain of trying to keep myself from laughing. Managing to gain some semblance of self-control, I attempted to push my mixed pile of food and wrappers out of the way as quietly as I could. I just had to see if this guy had a goatee. Based on the group I sat with at lunch today, there was no telling what he looked like.
Creeping forward on my hands and knees, I slowly gripped the corner of the vending machine. Channeling my inner ninja, I peeped around the edge. When my eye fully cleared the side of the structure, it widened before it narrowed.
Really? Of all the people…
I was in the middle of a mental rant when the supposed "typical school bad boy" sighed, tapping the ash off the end of his cigarette. Eyes flicked to mine briefly before looking away.
"I can see you, brat."
I was standing up before I knew it, spluttering in shock for multiple reasons. Reason One: I knew for sure this time that "brat" was an insult aimed at me; Reason Two: Did Sasori just start a conversation with me…? Reason Three: But I was in full stealth mode!
"I'm-" Oops, better clear that gunky sound, "I'm not a... a brat."
But Sasori just scoffed and rolled his eyes, never responding.
Okay… So maybe he didn't want conversation. Pft, whatever. What did I care anyway? Determination suddenly filled me. If he's going to ignore me, then I'm going to ignore him.
And with that thought, I leaned down quickly to grab a random bag of food from my hoard. Slumping against the front of the vending machine ungracefully, I did my best to copy Sasori's lean-on-the-wall-with-a-foot-up pose, but gave up at the inadequate feel of it, choosing instead to just lean with my feet stretched out in front (like a normal person). I didn't want to go back to the other side, less it seem I was trying to cower away from him. Tearing into the packaging, I felt my shoulders tense up automatically at the thought of Sasori nearby while I stared determine forward out into the night.
Moments passed in silence only interrupted by the sound (and smell) of blowing smoke, or the opening of different junk food bags. As time wore on, my initial adrenaline rush of determination slowly filtered away, leaving uncertainty. Fidgeting, I became increasingly aware of my dress. If it wasn't bad enough that I was in pajamas, I was wearing my version of pajamas. This entails cloth work-out shorts that have never seen a single squat in their life, and an old, ratty T-shirt. The one I'm currently wearing being a beautifully faded gray with equally as faded letters. I don't even know what it said anymore, it was that bad.
And then there's the no shoe thing.
I must just be the epitome of sexy right now.
Trying to console myself, I argued that Sasori couldn't be much better off. He didn't have a roommate either, so there was no point in wearing actual PJ's, right? Wanting to confirm this idea, I glanced over my shoulder as indiscreetly as possible.
.
..
...
Hot damn.
I-I mean, w-well.. Oh great, that's just great. Now I'm even stuttering mentally. Is there any hope left for me? Short answer being no, by the way.
Ahem. What I meant to say was, uh, hot dung. Yeah, that sounds right. Keeping it PG folks. Hot dung. It's going to catch on, I swear. Tell your friends.
Okay, so remember when I said I felt nothing towards Sasori. Like, just today? Well, funny thing. That was not accounting this version of Sasori. And by this version I mean this scantily clad version. Trust me, anyone would have the same reaction.
Because my god (whomever that may be), I think my brain just malfunctioned. Do you see all those dots up there? And that cuss word? Not usual Mai agenda.
But upon swiveling my head those fateful fifty degrees to the left, all normalcy flew out the metaphorical window. My peripherals gifted me with the site of him leaning casually against the wall, one unlaced boot propped up with the other stretched out to keep balance. What was left of his cigarette was just barely perched in his mouth, looking like it would fall any minute.
But my quick glance was mostly filled with the sight of skin. So much skin. Pale, lean arms crossed over a bare chest. It was completely and utterly unexpected, although not entirely unwanted. He appeared to have just rolled out of bed in the middle of the night, soft hair still rumpled from a few hours of sleep. His eyes, already heavy lidded, were dropped even more than usual, slightly unfocused brown eyes with pupils blown wide in the dark.
He looked like someone straight out of a movie: mysterious, sexy, dark, brooding, sexy. The works. If I didn't know any better, I would think I was dreaming. But a quick pinch to the arm told me otherwise.
It wasn't until those aforementioned broody eyes locked with my slightly unfocused ones did I realize I was staring. Not just glancing, like I had oh so helpfully planned, but full-out staring. And apparently, based on the annoyed look in those eyes, it was pretty obvious.
"Uh," was my eloquent response to his quickly formed glare. I had yet to look away! With jerky movements that felt to be almost robotic, I forced myself to face forwards once more, but not without my eyes lingering in all the inappropriate places. My blush responded quite unhelpfully to the eye candy, cranking up to furnace level.
With my blood currently trying to melt my face off from the inside out, I felt myself clear my throat in an unsuccessful attempt to dispel the awkward annoyance that I could feel suffocating the air between us – awkward from my end, extreme annoyance from his.
Well at least we are both committing something to this relationship. That's improvement right there. It's better than one side being
Pointless.
My shoulders hunched at the word. I hated it. It really was such a despicable word. It encompassed one's entire being, pointing out that everything of anything was not necessary – not even worth a second glance, implying that a first glance was the only thing it took. First impressions are everything, right? Pointless was when you got that first impression wrong. When your immediate presence amounted to so little so quickly…
"You know…" I found myself speaking, suddenly feeling the need to let him know. To make him understand. "You, uh, you should really get to k-know someone, or, er, something, I guess you c-could say too, before you…" I paused to sigh, running a hand through my still damp hair, "Before you judge her, or say something you might, I-I don't know, regret… maybe…"
Wow. Okay. Totally nailed all of that one. Geez I need professional help…
But with my point across (I think), I could only wait and see how he would take it. I only just kept myself from looking over my shoulder to see what his face looked like, so instead I looked down at my bare feet, curling my toes in nervousness, but wincing at the pain it caused from the trip over.
There was the small sounds of movement and scraping, and I could imagine Sasori dropping his cigarette, scuffing it out with his boot. Then the back door screeched open.
"Whatever," He scoffed, but then there was a hesitation in his voice, as if he was deciding whether or not to continue. There was an aggravated sigh, and two small thuds on the concrete; he bit out the rest. "Wear shoes next time, brat - don't be an idiot."
And with that, the door banged shut.
Okay… So he didn't get it.
I exhaled a short, angry breath before finally allowing myself to look over my shoulder. He was gone, but in his place was a pair of unlaced boots.
Blinking once in confusion, I then broke out into a grateful smile, eagerly slipping on the oversized footwear. Gathering my eaten and uneaten bags of food, I made the much less pain-filled trip back to my dorm. After carefully placing the boots by my door, making a mental note to somehow give them back to him, I collapsed heavily into my bed.
Maybe he did get it.
Snuggling into my covers with a yawn, I didn't dare think what tomorrow would bring. Today had been enough to last me the rest of the year…
My eyelids suddenly flew open at a hazy, almost asleep thought, my brain yanking itself out of dream world. I groaned as I made another mental chalk up to things I never knew about Sasori Akasuna, my supposed one and only crush. Yet he was turning into more of a mystery the more I learned.
Who knew he smoked?
Done and done. This chapter had been written in a notebook, and I never had the time to type it up. So there you go. Sorry for being old-fashioned.
About reviews, I will respond to old ones either tonight or tomorrow. Just never got around to it, I guess... But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate them! I do! I swear! Every review is my precious...
I'll update a few more times throughout Christmas Break, but then I don't know. Life, man. It sucks like a vacuum in a black hole sometimes...
Love and hugs and other physical forms of affection!
(PS: thoughts on a Sasori PoV chapter?)
